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• <br />JOHN ASHCRAFT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INDIAN RIVER COMMUNITY <br />MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, INC., GAVE A PRESENTATION OF THE CENTERS ACTIVITIES. <br />HE EXPLAINED THAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE <br />THAT NEED THEM THE MOST, I.E., THEY ARE SERVING MORE CHRONIC PATIENTS <br />AND MORE THAT NEED DAILY CARE. HE FURTHER NOTED THAT THEY ARE DOING <br />SOME PRIMARY PREVENTION TYPE OF WORK THROUGH CONSULTATION AND SOON WILL <br />HAVE THEIR CONSULTATION EDUCATION PROGRAM UNDERWAY TO PROVIDE SERVICES <br />TO VARIOUS GROUPS SUCH AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE <br />SERVICES, THE SHERIFF, ETC. MR. ASHCRAFT EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAVE ADDED <br />AN ALCOHOL PROGRAM AND ARE OPERATING A RESIDENTIAL DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM, <br />WHICH IS FUNDED 100% BY THE STATE. THEY HAVE INCREASED THEIR SERVICE <br />LOCATIONS FROM TWO TO EIGHT IN THE FOUR COUNTY AREA AND HAVE OPENED A <br />BRANCH IN VERO BEACH WHICH IS NOW FULLY STAFFED, THEY HAVE A PSYCHIATRIST <br />AVAILABLE ONCE A WEEK TO DO EVALUATIONS ON PATIENTS. MR. ASHCRAFT INFORMED <br />THE BOARD THAT THEY ARE NOT A WELFARE AGENCY. THEY ARE, HOWEVER, HEAVILY <br />SUBSIDIZED BY LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS, WHICH DOES ALLOW THEM <br />TO CHARGE A FEE ACCORDING TO THE PATIENT S ABILITY TO PAY. HE STATED <br />THAT THEY FIND WHEN A PATIENT IS REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE TREATMENT, IT <br />BECOMES MORE MEANINGFUL TO THEM, AND THERAPY IS MORE EFFECTIVE. MR, <br />ASHCRAFT THEN DISCUSSED THE FEDERAL GRANT ENDING AT THE END OF THEIR <br />FISCAL YEAR AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDS BEING LOST FROM THEIR BUDGET. <br />HE FELT SOME OF THIS WILL BE REPLACED AND SOME WILL HAVE TO BE RAISED <br />THROUGH FEES, BUT NOTED THAT IF THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD NOT APPROPRIATE <br />THE NECESSARY FUNDS, THEY WILL BE IN A PROBLEM WITH THEIR OUT-PATIENT <br />MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. HE STATED THAT THEY WOULD APPRECIATE ANY COMMENTS <br />THE BOARD COULD MAKE ON THIS TO THE LEGISLATURE. <br />MR. ASHCRAFT INFORMED THE BOARD THAT THEY RECENTLY HAD AN <br />EVALUATION.WHICH WAS MAINLY POSITIVE, BUT THERE WERE SOME AREAS OF <br />DEFICIENCY - AN INSUFFICIENT CHILDREN IS PROGRAM; NO PSYCHIATRIC HALF -WAY <br />HOUSE FOR PEOPLE RETURNING FROM A STATE HOSPITAL; AND LACK OF SUFFICIENT <br />ALCOHOL SERVICES. HE NOTED THAT ST. LUCIE COUNTY STILL HAS NOT FUNDED <br />THE ALCOHOL PROGRAM, AND.AT THIS POINT THEY ARE ONLY FURNISHING THEM WITH <br />DETOX CRISIS SERVICE, BUT NO FOLLOW-UP. HE CONTINUED THAT THE DISTRICT <br />37 <br />9 PAL- 7 <br />